Fresno Air Quality in May

Across 2019–2025, Fresno's May air quality had a median AQI of 57 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Fresno, CA area. 11.1% of May days (24 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 89.4% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2019 (median AQI 51, 2 days above 100) and the worst was 2025 (median 64, 5 days above 100, peak AQI 164).

57
Median AQI
Moderate
11.1%
Days above AQI 100
24 of 217 days
101
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
164
Peak AQI
Unhealthy
O3
Main pollutant
89.4% of days
38.7%
Good days
84 of 217
  • Good: 38.7%
  • Moderate: 50.2%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 10.6%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Fresno in May?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 57 across 2019–2025, with 11.1% of May days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.

  • 38.7% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 50.2% Moderate (51–100).
  • 24 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 164.
  • Best May: 2019; worst May: 2025.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Fresno in May?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Fresno in May was 57 (Moderate). 38.7% of days were Good, 50.2% Moderate, and 11.1% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.

Is May a good time for outdoor exercise in Fresno?

A typical May day in Fresno is Moderate (median AQI 57): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 9 of May days (11.1%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

Which pollutant causes Fresno's May air quality problems?

Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 89.4% of May days in Fresno. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 164 (Unhealthy), in 2025.

Fresno May air quality, year by year

Fresno May air quality by year (Fresno, CA, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
2019cleanest31512105O3
202031545143O3
202131564126O3
202231543122O3
202331543126O3
202431642108O3
2025worst31645164O3

What May air means in Fresno

A typical May day in Fresno is Moderate (median AQI 57): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 9 of May days (11.1%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

May's median AQI of 57 is below Fresno's whole-year median of 67, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median May AQI across every EPA metro area (104,064 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so Fresno runs above the national May norm; 11.1% of its May days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (above average).

May is part of Fresno's spring season (March, April, May); the spring page pools all three months.

Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.

Right now in Fresno

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Fresno's AQI at 69 (PM10). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Fresno air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Fresno, CA), 2019–2025. Daily AQI per CBSA is the highest AQI reported by any monitor in the area that day; the defining parameter is the pollutant that set it. Month and season statistics pool every such day in the period across all years listed. Retrieved 2026-09-09.